Barn-door latch.



G. P. McQUlLLEN.

BARN DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION men OCT. 134 1914.

Patented June 20, 1916.

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6.1 M9 Qwfllen/ GEORGE P. IVICQUILLEN, 0F WINFRED, SOUTH DAKOTA.

BARN-DOOR LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June ac, rare.

Application filed October 13, 1914.v Serial No. 866,459.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE P. MOQUIL- LEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winfred, in the county of Lake, State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barn-Door Latches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This present invention relates to new and useful improvements in latches and particularly latches adapted for use'on barn doors.

The object of the present invention resides in the provision of a latch of the class described which automatically looks when the barn door to which it is attached is swung to closed position, and which may be easily operated from within or without the barn to relieve said locking engagement.

The invention further comprises the provision of a latch which is in no manner affected by the weather, which presents no possibility of injury to live stock and which cannot be opened by the live stock.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of such a latch which comprises a minimum number of parts so that it is durable in use and may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the improved latch associated with a barn door, Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bolt actuating means.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 5 designates that portion of a barn door with which the improved latch is associated and 6 designates the adjacent portion of the frame, the edge of which carries the keeper 7 comprising a flat plate secured thereto and provided with a U-shaped slit forming a tongue 8 outwardly bent to provide a beveled surface for the bolt of the latch to slide upon and a shoulder at its free end for retaining the bolt.

The latch bolt 9 is held by a casing comprising a single length 10 of metal having its lntermediate portion secured to the barn door and having its end portions bent outwardly at 11 and inwardly at 12 to provide a substantially rectangular casing, the bolt being passed through an opening 13 in the forward end of the casing and a slotted opening l t in the rear end thereof so that the bolt is allowed free sliding motion and a slight pivotal motion. The bolt is normally forced into engagement with the keeper by an expansible spring 15 secured at one end to the bolt and having its other end bearing against a loose washer 16 on the bolt at the rear end of the casing.

For actuating the bolt, a shaft 17 is journaled in the door and is provided adjacent the outer face of the door with an upwardly extending arm 18 suitably bent to form a grip portion. The other end of the shaft is squared and threaded outwardly of said squared portion to receive a nut for holding said squared portion on an arm 19 extend ing upwardly. The latch bolt 9 is secured to this arm 19 above its connection with the shaft 17. The arm is also outwardly offset at its free end as at 20 to provide a grip portion as shown. Thus it is seen that by rocking the shaft 17 through the medium of the arms 18 or 19 the latch bolt will be retracted against the action of the spring 15.

A washer 21 surrounds the shaft 17 and is secured to the outer face of the door to provi de a bearing for a coil spring 22 surrounding the shaft 17 outwardly thereof. This spring bears against the arm 18 and against the washer and holds the several parts of the device at proper tension. Bolted to the door adjacent the upper portion of the arm 19 is a strip of metal 23 having one portion thereof bent outwardly to form a stop limiting the swinging movement of the arm and thus preventing the latch bolt from moving too far outwardly to properly engage the keeper and thus automatically lock the door when it is swung to closed position. On the outer face of the wall of the barn at the hinged side of the door is a spring detent 24k which is adapted to be engaged by the arm 18 to hold the door in open position, said detent having a beveled end 25, which is adapted to snap into engagement with the Copies of this patentmey be obtained for arm 18 when the door issivvung to its open position. 7' '7 'From the foregoing it is thus-observed. that a very simple device has been provided which is eflicient and easy of operation, simpleof structure and which presents no liability of injury to live stock.

T hat is claimed is: 7 V A latch comprising the combination with ado0r and'frarne, a casing ,on the door, a

ing upwardly from the other end of the shaft and pivotally connected to the bolt, an expansible spring surrounding the shaft between the door and the first-mentioned arm and a keeper on the frame comprising a plate having a portion thereof bent to provide a cam surface for the bolt der to hold the same. 7 In testimony whereof, I afiix my sigi'iature, in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE P. MOQUILLEN. WVitnesses:

'MARTIN F. BERTHER,

F. J. SCHUELLER.

and a shoulfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of. Patents. Washington, D. G." 

